Hand-symbol signal



Aug. gs, 1.928.

A. G. MOLNIAR HAND SYMBOL SIGNAL Filed VMay 18,- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY. 'v

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Vug. 28, 1928.

l 51,682,233 A. G. MoLNlAR v HAND SYMBOL SIGNAL Fiied may 18. .1927 zsneets-sneet. 2

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES retzen Annigirrv GEORGE nonnina, on Aniston, MICHIGAN. l

HAND-SYMBOL SIGNAL.

Application filed` May 18,

hand symbol signalling device of strong, durable, and comparatively inexpensive construction adapted 'to be easily and cheaply manufactured and installed on automobiles and other motor vehicles at a low cost and capable of imitating an outstretched hand for signalling and of convenient operation interiorly of a car at a point adjacent the steering wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and efficient automobile signal of this character adapted to fold com pactly Within a relatively small space 'when not in signalling ,position and capable of unfolding and swingingto a signalling position and of displaying a light both at the front and rear, whereby the signal Will be -effective both dav and night.

' Another object of the invention is to provide 'l an automobile signal equipped with a spotlight and operable to carry an electric light bulb with it from. the spotlight to a signal# ling position and capable of returning lthe .electric light to the spotlight when the automoblie signal is swungto its non-signalling position.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide aii automobile hand symbol signal equipped with a spotlight .and adapted for use on open and closed cars and capable of instant operation with a single motion to move the device to signa-llingl position or to return it to non-signalling spotlight position Without unbuttonine curtains or opening a Window of a closed car or otherwise exposing` the O'cupants of the car to the Weather and thereby afford practical Asafety signallingY and spotlight machine.

lVitii these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter describeth illustrated inthe ac-Y companying drawings. and set kforth in the claims hereto appended, it beiiiguiiderstood that various changes in the form. size,V and 'minor details of construction7 Within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to With service.L from the interior of a i927. 'serial no. 192,410.

out departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing- Yany ofthe advantages n thereof. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient In the drawings: Figure l is aside elevation of anauto- ,mobile hand symbol signal constructed in accordance With this invention and shown in non-signalling position, one side of the.

casing or covering being removed and the devicebeinfi' shown applied to the corner post of an open car.

n' 2 is a similar View, the device being in signalling position.

Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional View of the same. i

F t is an elevation of anV automobile hand signal shown applied to a portion of a closed car.

Fig. '5 is an edgeview of. thefsaine partly in section7 the signal being folded.

Eig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the signal being folded. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated the preferred'embodimentsy of the invention7 the automobile hand symbol signal comprises in its construction a signal element 'l which is preferably in the form of a. hand but which may befof any other preferred configuration. The signal 'ele- .ment is composed of two foldable sections 2 and 3 connectedtogether by suitable hinges 4 and 5 and composed of metallic portionsv and portions 6 and 7 of `glass, Celluloid or other suitable material ivhich may be readily mol ded or otherwise shaped into the form of a hand.

marginal lframe around the outer edges of the portions 6 and and supporting the The nietallic'portions of the device may also be readily punched or cast and the vsignal element may take the forni of an arrow, star. or other form. The hinges 4t and 5 which connect the sections 2 and 8 enable the sections to fold together in coinpact arrangement when the signal element is niolif'ed to non-signalling position. and this is effected automatically bythe means `hereinafter described.` The signal element is adapted to swing downward from a vertical folded position to a horizontal signalling,rk

position andthe sections unfold during such The metallic por-v tions have extensions 8 and 9 forming a CTI downward swinging vmovement and they fold together when the signal element is swung upward from a horizontal signalling position to a vertical non-signalling position.

The section 2 of the signal element is rigidly connected to one arin of a lever fulcruiiied intermediate of its ends on a horizontal pivot 11 carried by a bracket arm 1.2 of a section 13 of a clamp composed lof the said section 13 and a section 14 and connecting bolts 15. The clamp is provided with jaws which conform to the configuration of the rigid corner post 16 of an automobile of the open type. The supporting or bracket arm 12 extends outwardly from the outer portion of the jaw 13 which is provided at its inner portion with a bracket variii 17 carrying' a pivot 18 which forms Va fulcruin and an operating' lever 19. Thelever 10 consists of a relatively long arin and a short angula rly related arm which is connected with the operating lever by a link 20. The linli' 2O is connected to the levers 10 and 19 by suitable pivots 21 and 22, and the operating lever, which is approximately lJ-shaped, is

fulcruined at its anOle and has one arm connected to the said iinlr 26 and isprovided at its other arm with a proj ecting` handle 23 located at the inner side of the corner post 16. When the operating'V lever is oscillated motion willbe communicated to the lever 12 and the signal element will be swung on the pivot 11 of the lever 10 to carry the signal element into and out of a cover or casing and from a vertical noirsignalling position to a horizontal signalling position and back to a vertical position within the cover or casing for concealing the signal element. The sections 13 and 14 of the clamp are provided with inwardly projecting webs or flanges 24 which are pierced by the adjusting bolts and whichV have inner corrugated faces25.

The opening and closing' of the hinged sections of the signal element is effected automatically during the swinging' movement of the signal element. llhis is accomplished by mechanism comprising a cam actuated snrin pressed lever 26 and a worin or screw shaft 27 extending longitudinally of the section 2 of the signal elementand journaled in suitable bearings and provided with an oscillatory arin 28 arranged exteriorly of the sections of the signal element and provided with a terminal lug 29 which engages in a slot 30 in the inner end of the foldable sec`V tion 3. The lever7 which is approximately T-shaped is composed of aligned arms and a laterally extending arm. i One of the aligned arms is fulcrunied at its oiiterrend by a suitable pivot 31 to thesection 2 of the signal element and the other aligned larm has a forl or bifurcation 32 provided Aat its sides with inwardly extending rounded lugs 33 which engage spiral-grooves 34 of the shaft 27 whereby when the lever 26 iesaese is oscillated the shaft 27 will be rotated.

The shaft 27 which is disposed longitudinal-V ly of the section 2 of the signal element is provided at one end with a journal 35 and at its other end is s iitably ournaled in the section 2by means of a screw 36 which also engagement with the saine by a spring 39.'

The spring 39, which is suitably mounted in the section 2 of the signal element by spaced lugs 40 bears against the baci; of the cam actuatcdlever and the cani preferably con- .il of a bent plate having an inclined porvion and mounted on the bracket arm 12 of the section 18 of the clamp. Thewheel of the lever 26 rolls up and down the incline of the cam when the signal eleinentis swung on its pivot and the woriii'or screw shaft is rotated by the swinging .movement of the liv-fer 26 to swing the section 3 of the signal open and close the latter. The cani forces the lever 26 in one direction and the spring swings the lever in the opposite di rcclion, so that there is a positive rotation. of the worin or screw shaft during the swinging movement of the signal element. The bei plate which forms the cani is suitably secured at its upper end to the bracket arm 12 and is connected at its upper end with an adj listing* screw 41 for varying the cam acion., but any other suitable forni of adjustable cam. may, of course, be employed.

`When the signal element is swung upward to its vertical position the sections 2 and 3.

are closed and the signal element is carried within the concealing covering, which may consist of spaced sides 42 secured to the Vbracket arm 12 at opposite sides thereof.

The cover may be constructed of any suitable znateri'al and it may, as hereinafter described, be equipped at the fold with a spot light reflector to enable an electric light bulb 43 to function as a signal light and also as a spotlight. rllie section 2 is provided with an electric light socket 44 which may be arranged in any suitable circuit and any suitable means may be provided for autoiiiatin cally opening the circuit when theV signalling arm is moved to its non-signalling position and for closing the saine when it is moved to signalling position.

Then the automobile hand symbol signal ispinounted onv a closed car, as illustrated' in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, a suitable casing 45 is employed and is suitably secured to the frame 46 of the bodyv of the machine at the left hand corner thereof. The casing is designed to be equipped at the front with a spotlight reflector 47 and the electric light bulb Vis carried to a position adjacent the spotlight reflector Vwhen the signal element is folded or moved. to non-signalling posivouter side for that purpose. vof the invention the operating lever is preftion. The casing is open at the outer side to permit the signal` element vto swing into and .out of the same and the covering shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive is also open at the In this form erably in the form of a horizontal shaft i8 suitably jouinaled in the. frame `4:6 in the body of the car and is provided at its inner end with a crank handle 49 and at itsouter end with an arm 50' which is connected by Vheretofore described, and a suitable cam 53 is provided for actuating the lshaped` lever 54. The operation ofthe automobile signal illustrated in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, is the same as that :heretofore described. The crank handle 49 is within easy reach of the driver of the machine and the signal be moved to each of its positions by a single movement of the operating lever formed by the shaft 48 and its arms 49 and 50. The front side of the covering kshown in Figs. lrto 3, inclusive, may, of course, be provided with a spotlight casing so that the electric light will function both as a spotlight and as a signal` light. The spotlight reflector is equipped witha spotlight glass 55 and may be of any desired construction, aswill be readily understood. -The electric light bulb 43 is arranged in corresponding registering recesses 56 of the sections of the signal element. The recesses form an opening in the signal element for displaying the electric light at both the front and rear.

that I claim is;

l. An automobile signal of the classdescribed,` including a signal element divided longitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged together at their-inner longitudinal edges to permit one `of the seetions to swing transversely and fold against the other section, means for moving the signal bodily to andA froina signalling position, and means for folding and unfolding the sections of the signal element during the movement of the same to and from the said Ysignalling position.

2. An automobile signal of the class described, including asignal element divided Vlongitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged together at their inner longitudinal edges to permit one of the unfolding the hinged sections of the signal element during theswinging movements of the latter.

An automobile signal of the class described, including a-signal element divided longitudinally to `form two sections, said sections being hinged together at their inner ,longitudinal edgestopermit one of the sections to swing transversely and fold against the other section, means for pivotally mounting` the signal element and for swinging the same to and from a signalling position, and means for folding and unfolding the hinged sectionsof the signal element during the .swinging movements of the latter, the latter `means including a shaft mounted on one of the sections and having an arm connected with the other section, a relatively fixed cam andmeans carried by the signal element and .engaged bythe cam for rotating the shaft.

il. .An automobile signal of the class described, including a signal element divided `lengitudinally to forni two sections, saidsections being hinged together at -their inner longitudinal edges to permit one of the sections to swing transversely and fold against the other section, means for pivotally mounting theV signal element and for swinging the saine to and from a signalling position, and means forfolding and unfolding the hinged sections of the signal element during the swinging movements of the latter, the latter means including a shaft mounted on one of the sect-ions and `having an arm connected with the other section, a `relatively fixed cam and means carried by the signal elementy andv engaged by the cam for rotating the shaft in one direction and a spring for rotating the shaft in the opposite direction.

An automobile signal of the class described, including a signal element composed of hinged foldableseetions, means' for pivot-ally mounting the signal element and for swinging the same to and from a. signalling posit-ion, and means for folding and unfolding the hinged sections of the signal element during the swinging'movements of the latter, the latter means including` a shaft mounted on one of the sections and having an arm connected with the other section, said shaft being provided with spiral grooves, a lever pivoted on and connected by the signal element and having` means for engaging sai d grooves and ar relatively cam arranged in the path of and adapted. lto be engaged by the said lever for rotating the shaft when the signal element is swung on itsipivot.

6. lAn automobile signal of the class described, including a signal element composed of hinged foldable sections, means for pivotally mounting the signal element and for swinging the saine to and from a signalling position.v and means for folding and unfolding thehinged sections ofthe signal element the signal element and having means for engaging said grooves and a relatively fixed cam arranged in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the said lever for rotating the shaftin one direction when the signa-l element is swung on its pivot, and a spring carriedby the signal element andengaging the lever for rotating'the shaft in the'oppO-g site direction.

7. An automobile signal of the class described, including a signal element divided longitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged. together at their inner longitudinal edges to permit one ot the sections to swing transversely and told against the other section, a piveted lever carrying the signal element and arranged to swing the same from a non-signalling position to a signalling position, lan operating device, means for operatively connecting the operating device with the lever for swinging the signalling device, and means iter automatically swinging one of said sections transversely on the other for folding and unfolding the signal element during the swinging movements of the signal element.

8. An automobile signal of the class described, including a signal element composed of foldable relatively movable sections, a pivoted lever carrying the signal element and arranged to swing the same from a, non-signalling position to a signalling position, an operating device, means for operatively connecting the operating device with the lever for swinging thesign alling device, means for automatically folding and unfolding the signal element during the swinging movements of the signal element, and a covering ar- Y ranged to receive the signalling element and conceal the same when the signal element is moved to non-signalling position.

9. An automobile signal device oi' the class described, including a foldable signal element divided longitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged atV their inner longitudinal edges to permit one of the sections to swing transversely and provided at their inner hinged edges with registering recesses forming an opening when the sections are unfolded, an electric light carried "by one of the sections and located Vat the said recesses and `arranged in the said opening when the'said sections are unfolded, means for moving the signal element 4to and from,` arsignalling position, and means for automatically unfolding and folding the sections of the signal element during the movement thereorP to and from its signalling position.

l0. An automobile signal of the Vclass described including a casing having a spotlight retlector, a Ypivotally mounted signal element divided longitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged together at their inner longitudinal edges to permit one section to'swing transversely and' having at their inner hinged edges Vregistering recesses forming an opening when the 'sections are unfolded, an electric light bulb carried by one of the sections and arranged at the said recesses and located in the said opening for illuminating the signal when the sections are unfolded, said signal element being arranged to swing into the casing and to carry the electric light bulb to the spotlight reflector to form a spotlight, operating means for swinging the signal element, and means `for swinging one section transversely on the other for folding and unfolding the sections oil the signal element during the pivotal movement ot the latter.y

'11.. An automobile signal of the class described, including a pivotally mounted signal element divided longitudinally to form two sections, said sections being hinged together at their inner longitudinal edges to permit one section to swing transversely on the other and adapted to fold and unfold when the signal element is swung on its pivot, means for swinging the signal element to carry it to and from a signalling position, a relatively fixed cam, and means carried by the signal element and connected with the sections and arranged to enga-ge and be actuated bythe cam for swinging one of the hinged sections transversely ot the signal element as the latter is swung on its pivot,

l2. An automobile signal of the class described, including a pivot-ally mounted signal element divided longitudinally to iorm two sections, said sections being hinged together at their inner longitudinal edges and arranged to told and unfold during the Y swinging movement of the signal element on its pivot, a relatively fixed-cam, a lever pivotally mounted on one of the sections of the signal element and arranged to be actuated in one direction by the said cam, a spring engaging the lever and swinging the saine in the opposite direction, and means actuated by the lever and connected with the other hinged section to swing the latter transversely for opening and closing the signal element when the latter is swung on its pivot. i

' 13. An automobile signal oi the class described, including a pivotally mounted signal element divided longitudinally' tov form two sections7 said sections being hingedA together at their inner longitudinal edges and arranged to fold and unfold during the swinging movement of the signalelement on its pivot, a relatively fixed cam, an approximately T-shaped lever having twov substantially aligned arms and a laterally eX- tending arm, means for pivoting one of the aligned arms to one of the sections, a worin shaft journalled on such section and engaged by the other aligned arm ot the said lever, a spring 'bearing against the lever .for maintaining the same n engagement with the czun and for moving the lever n f the opposite direction to the movement of 5 the lever by the Cam when the signal element is swung on its pvot, and means connected with the Shaft and with the other Section of the signal element for Swinging the rlatter sectlon transversely l'or openlng and closing the signal element when the sanne ALBERT GEORGE MOLNIAR. 

